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Boost, protect your portfolio

Take Style Out sees 20% boost in number of stores

KARENA BENNETT Business reporter bennettk@jamaicaobserver

Wednesday, October 01, 2014    

Annual shopping event, Takes Style Out, has seen a nearly 20 per cent rise in participants over last year’s staging.

The night of sales, which is hosted by the Jamaica Observer and which will take place tomorrow, has approximately 2,000 stores registerd across the island, of which 300 outlets are new participants.

Over the last six years, retailers have reported doubling of sales figures and increased product awareness on the night.

“The past couple months have been extremely slow compared to normal activities, so let’s hope that this makes the difference,” owner of Signatures Boutique, Patricia Williams said. “So far, the store has doubled its profit at this time every year and we are looking forward to it again.”

“Our customers have grown accustomed to the sale every year and we again hope to see sales figure double for the day,” sales and marketing manager at McIntosh Bedding, Annette Farquharson told the Business Observer.

Discounts under the event ranges from five to 80 per cent across participating outlets.

Local retail store Eurowear, is looking to offer up to 75 per cent discount on clothing items as it gears up for the launch of the Jamaica Observer’s hosted event – Takes Style Out.

The company hopes to close the gap between European priced designer clothing wear and what the Jamaican market can afford with up to US$364 ($41,132) discount on its clothing items to boost its competitiveness.

Takes Style Out was introduced in Jamaica by the Observer’s Senior Content Editor for Lifestyle and Social Content, Novia McDonald-Whyte after observing the impact that the one-night-only sales bonanza event had on department stores overseas , back in 2009.

The event started as a test to boost the slowed post back-to-school sales of retailers and to revive the fashion industry.

Popular stores taking part in the event includes American Jewellery Company, Answers for Children, Action Sports, Payless Shoes Stores and Courts Jamaica Limited.

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Take Style Out sees 20% boost in number of stores

Will pro-pot Alaska reporter"s viral exit boost legal marijuana vote?

It was the “f— it” heard ‘round the web.

Alaska reporter Charlo Greene achieved viral video fame this week by announcing on-air she was quitting to work on passing the state’s Ballot Measure 2, which would legalize marijuana. 

“And as for this job … f— it, I quit,” said Greene, who until that moment worked for KTVA in Anchorage. 

But will all the attention surrounding her spectacular exit boost the ballot initiative itself? 

Perhaps not surprisingly, Greene seems to think so. She told FoxNews.com she believes her actions “1,000 percent” benefit the pro-legalization movement.

“If I had just given my two weeks, the viewers would have never known,” she said. 

Others in Alaska aren’t so sure what the impact will be. 

The marijuana ballot measure, polls show, has voters about evenly divided, and even a small shift could make the difference. At the same time, the ballot measure has been a hot topic in Alaska for months and both supporters and opponents downplayed the impact Greene’s move may have on voters. 

Taylor Bickford, a spokesman for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana in Alaska, told FoxNews.com while it’s “entirely possible” Greene’s outspoken outreach could drive some Alaskans to the polls, it doesn’t compare to the months of work the campaign has put in to gain support.

“Charlo Greene has transitioned from someone who reported on the ballot measure to a supporter,” Bickford said. “[But] she’s just one supporter amongst many.” 

Charles Fedullo, a spokesman for the “Big Marijuana, Big Mistake: Vote No on 2″ campaign, told FoxNews.com he believes there will be a high voter turnout for the fall election regardless of Greene’s actions, as there are many important issues on the ballot.

“When it comes to Charlo Greene, people will make up their own minds whether she is a valuable spokesperson for the pro-marijuana organization,” he said. 

The attention surrounding Greene (whose real name is Charlene Egbe) has raised some concerns from the pro-pot movement that the stunt could end up hurting the cause by casting it in a bad light. 

A former neighbor of Greene’s also reportedly filed a restraining order against her after claiming his daughter got sick due to the marijuana smoke from her room. Greene, who runs the Alaska Cannabis Club, allegedly threatened the father, though she denies it. 

Alaska has a long and muddled history with legalized marijuana.

University of Alaska-Anchorage Professor Jason Brandeis notes that the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 1975 that Alaskans could possess small amounts of recreational marijuana in the privacy of their homes for personal use. The permissible amount commonly is understood to be less than four ounces. Alaska also legalized medical marijuana in 1998. 

However, Alaska has several laws on the books that punish any non-medical marijuana use. This has created what Brandeis called a legal “gray area” — technically you can smoke marijuana in your home, but you can also be prosecuted if you’re caught.

“It makes it a little bit tricky,” Brandeis told FoxNews.com. 

Ballot Measure 2 would do away with that gray area by legalizing recreational marijuana use for people over the age of 21, and regulating its production, sale and use in the state.

Bickford said the changes are long overdue to reconcile the “confusing” and “damaging” laws in a “state that already has a multi-million dollar marijuana industry.” Bickford added that many Alaskans believe it’s better to have Alaska’s marijuana industry regulated than in the hands of criminal enterprises.

However, Fedullo strongly disagreed. He said the anti-legalization campaign is largely made up of volunteers, everyday Alaskans worried that national pro-marijuana organizations are trying to push their agenda in the fiercely independent state.

“People are very concerned,” he said. “And Alaskans in general, the hair on the back of our neck stands up when we feel there is outside influence coming here.” 

Fedullo said a “lot of people” he has spoken with in the state are worried about the effects legal marijuana has had in Colorado and Washington, and what impacts a legal marijuana industry could have on Alaska’s communities.

Greene described the ballot initiative as vital for the movement. As for her sign-off splash, Greene said after watching months of coverage on her TV station, she finally got the opportunity to voice her opinion.

“The fact that I’m sitting here with you on FoxNews.com talking about Ballot Measure 2 and what it means for Alaskans right here today just shows that whatever I did worked to spark a conversation about marijuana reform in Alaska, across the nation and across the world,” she said Thursday.

Recent surveys of voters by the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling indicate support for Ballot Measure 2 may be on the decline. In a May poll, 48 percent of voters said they would vote yes on the measure, while 45 percent said they would vote no and 7 percent said they were undecided.

However, in an August poll, 44 percent of voters said they would vote yes on the measure, while 49 percent said they would vote no and 8 percent said they were undecided.

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Will pro-pot Alaska reporter"s viral exit boost legal marijuana vote?

Tourism Minister expects boost in cruise sector next month

Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeil has declared that Jamaica’s cruise sector will receive a significant boost next month, with Thomson Dream home porting one ot its vessels in Montego Bay. 

Thomson Dream, which is the cruise arm of  European travel and tourism company (TUI) made the announcement last year that it intends to base one of its cruise ships in Jamaica.     The home porting of the ship in Montego Bay will result in an additional four flights out of Europe each week, bringing passengers for the vessel.Dr McNeil says an estimated 30 per cent of  the passengers who come for the cruise ships are expected to stay at alocal  hotel.  The Tourism Minister also announced on Wednesday that the country welcomed 939,000 cruise passengers during the months, January to August. That was up 10 per cent from a year ago.  

Falmouth, which handles 700,000 passengers annually, is the biggest port of call in Jamaica, followed by Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.   

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Tourism Minister expects boost in cruise sector next month

Financial institutions to boost loans this quarter

The Bank of Jamaica said financial institutions have indicated that they will boost loans in the current quarter, but unsecured loans are expected to decline.  
The financial institutions made the disclosure to the central bank in its quarterly survey of credit conditions.  
The survey found most lenders anticipating to lend mainly to businesses.  
Most of the household loans are expected to be made to those wanting credit cards, mortgages and other loans backed by real estate. 

It however says the anticipation is that apart from credit cards, financial institutions will reduce the amount of  unsecured loans they offer.  

Financial institutions say their overall expectation of  lending more money this quarter is driven by perceptions that the economy is improving.

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Financial institutions to boost loans this quarter

Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

Almond Beach Village, Barbados (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sunday July 27, 2014, CMC - Jamaican hotelier, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s, Sandals Group will within a few days purchase a Barbados flagship tourism property, Almond Beach Village, for US$53 million.

Reporting on the matter, the Sunday Sun newspaper, hailed the pending transaction for providing a boost to Barbados’ highly stressed foreign exchange coffers.

“It will all be in the form of badly needed foreign currency,” the paper stated.

The property is currently owned by state corporation, Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.(BTI), through which government has been borrowing money from another state entity, National Insurance Service, to keep that premier real estate afloat.

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Sandals Chairman, Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

The sale of Almond to Sandals was recently examined by Cabinet and approved by prime minister Freundel Stuart.

The Sunday newspaper quoted from a note sent to Cabinet by BTI when the purchase was being considered, “It is also worthy of note that Barbados would have been able to convert a Barbados dominated loan facility, namely borrowings from [NIS] and Almond Resorts Inc., which was all in Barbados currency, into United States dollars at a rate of $2 to $1?.

The emphasis on the foreign exchange gain from this anticipated purchase comes against the background of an analysis by international rating agency Moody’s on the perilous threat the Barbados dollar faces if its foreign currency reserve suffers further drops.

“Any further erosion in reserves would likely put further pressure on Barbados’ currency, which is pegged to the US dollar,” Moody’s stated in a July 21 report.

Moody’s added, “After recovering slightly during the previous three quarters, foreign exchange reserves have resumed their decline, and as of 30 June remained around 25 per cent below early-2013 levels,” Moody’s noted. “This decline occurred despite a slight recovery in long-term private financial inflows that traditionally help support the central bank’s international reserves”.

Half-year figures from the Barbados Central Bank show the foreign exchange reserve falling from BDS$1,219.9 (One BDS dollar = 50 US cents) at the end of June 2013 to BDS$1,093.3 at June 30 this year.

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Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

Almond Beach Village, Barbados (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sunday July 27, 2014, CMC - Jamaican hotelier, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s, Sandals Group will within a few days purchase a Barbados flagship tourism property, Almond Beach Village, for US$53 million.

Reporting on the matter, the Sunday Sun newspaper, hailed the pending transaction for providing a boost to Barbados’ highly stressed foreign exchange coffers.

“It will all be in the form of badly needed foreign currency,” the paper stated.

The property is currently owned by state corporation, Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.(BTI), through which government has been borrowing money from another state entity, National Insurance Service, to keep that premier real estate afloat.

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Sandals Chairman, Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

The sale of Almond to Sandals was recently examined by Cabinet and approved by prime minister Freundel Stuart.

The Sunday newspaper quoted from a note sent to Cabinet by BTI when the purchase was being considered, “It is also worthy of note that Barbados would have been able to convert a Barbados dominated loan facility, namely borrowings from [NIS] and Almond Resorts Inc., which was all in Barbados currency, into United States dollars at a rate of $2 to $1?.

The emphasis on the foreign exchange gain from this anticipated purchase comes against the background of an analysis by international rating agency Moody’s on the perilous threat the Barbados dollar faces if its foreign currency reserve suffers further drops.

“Any further erosion in reserves would likely put further pressure on Barbados’ currency, which is pegged to the US dollar,” Moody’s stated in a July 21 report.

Moody’s added, “After recovering slightly during the previous three quarters, foreign exchange reserves have resumed their decline, and as of 30 June remained around 25 per cent below early-2013 levels,” Moody’s noted. “This decline occurred despite a slight recovery in long-term private financial inflows that traditionally help support the central bank’s international reserves”.

Half-year figures from the Barbados Central Bank show the foreign exchange reserve falling from BDS$1,219.9 (One BDS dollar = 50 US cents) at the end of June 2013 to BDS$1,093.3 at June 30 this year.

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Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Adrian Frater, News Editor

From left, Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Brian ‘Big Head’ Martin, the promoter of the International Dancehall Queen Contest, and Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions, the promoters of Reggae Sumfest, in discussion during Tuesday night’s launch of Dancehall Queen 2014. – Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, says the International Dancehall Queen Contest, staged in Montego Bay annually, is tailor-made for the government’s new Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways initiative, which is designed to boost both tourism and entertainment.

Cooper, the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s launch of the 18th renewal of the Big Head Promotions event, to be held at Pier One on August 2, says grassroots events like ‘Dancehall Queen’ are integral to the preservation of Jamaica’s culture.

“90 days of summer is designed to showcase a range of entertainment activities over the 90 days of summer,” said Cooper. “It has the capacity to boost tourism and other business-related spin-offs associated with entertainment, so ‘Dancehall Queen’ would fit perfectly into the concept.”

Commending the organiser for keeping the contest alive over so many years, Cooper spoke to the global appeal of Jamaica’s music as girls travel from all over the world annually to vie for the title.

Promoter Brian Martin, who started the contest to help expose talented inner-city dancers and has since taken it to over 40 countries, said he is not convinced that dancehall and its various spin-off activities are getting enough respect locally.

This year’s event, which will be streamed all over the world via the Internet, will see the winner walking away with a whopping J$1 million in cash and prizes. The second- and third-place finishers, as well as the winners of sectional awards, will also be handsomely rewarded.

“So far, we have had confirmation from more than 40 countries, to include newcomers Slovakia and South Africa and, as usual, we will be expecting the usual strong representation from Japan, Poland, the United States, and across the Caribbean,” said Martin.

In last year’s contest, Keja ‘Tall Up’ Christie, a student of the G.C Foster School of Physical Education, copped the coveted title. Brandi Watts, of the United States, was second; while Lillian Wamini, of Canada/Uganda, was third.

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International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Sales boost after Chronixx performance

Chronixx – File

Shereita Grizzle, STAR Writer

Based on the hype surrounding his United States television debut, it was clear that Chronixx’s appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon would be something historic in the singer’s career.

Following his performance on Tuesday where host Jimmy Fallon lauded his recent album, the Dread and Terrible, the 10-track compilation has seen a boost in sales.

Dread and Terrible currently holds the number one spot on the iTunes chart, while the single, Here Comes Trouble, is standing firm at number three. A boost in sales has also contributed to the EP making its way back on to the Billboard’s Digital Reggae Singles chart. It is holding the number 19 spot.

Since its April 1 release, the work has sold just over 6,000 copies and in its release month it topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart before dropping as far back as number 10. However, following his Tonight Show performance, the album has made its way back towards the top once more holding the number three spot this week taking over from Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta.

Since his appearance on the late night show many Jamaicans, including fellow entertainers, Tessanne Chin, who also had an appearance on the Tonight Show earlier this year, took to her Facebook page to beam about Chronixx’s performance.

Her post read “OMG just got a chance to see this. LOVE IT !!! Gwan Tru @chronixxmusic !!! So proud and so happy to see you waving our flag high in a BIG way.”

Maxi Priest also used Facebook to congratulate the entertainer, “Chronixx you did a good job King. I enjoyed the performance on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. You did us proud!”

Reggae band Inner Circle also used social media to talk about the performance, “Big up to Jimmy Fallon we could tell he’s a real reggae fan! Early this week he featured the new rising star out of Jamaica, Chronixx.”

Social media has been abuzz since Tuesday with many users posting videos of Chronixx’s performance, with even the host himself using his Twitter account to share his views. His tweet read “@IamChronixx made his US TV debut on the show last night. So good.”

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com

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Sales boost after Chronixx performance

World Bank commits US$10.2 billion to boost Caribbean economic growth

WASHINGTON D.C., United States, Friday July 4, 2014, CMC – The World Bank says it has committed US$10.2 billion this year to support Latin America and the Caribbean efforts to boost economic growth and maintain historic social gains.

The Washington-based financial institution said that the amount included resources from its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

The World Bank’s IBRD and IDA “maintained its strong support for the region” by approving more than US$5.1 billion in new loans in fiscal year 2014, US$4.6 billion from IBRD and US$455 million from IDA, the bank’s fund for the poorest countries, the statement said.

“Support was aimed at generating opportunities for all through public and private sector projects that expand public services, improve regional productivity, competitiveness and integration, create new quality jobs and assist those most in need,” said the bank, adding that Haiti received US$103 million in IDA grants.

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Transportation, fiscal management and education received the most IBRD funding, said the World Bank, with the region receiving one fourth of IBRD’s total global new lending.

The bank said that this fiscal year, IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, identified infrastructure as one of the most urgent priorities to help boost competitiveness and job creation, especially for the region’s growing urban population.

WASHINGTON D.C., United States, Friday July 4, 2014, CMC – The World Bank says it has committed US$10.2 billion this year to support Latin America and the Caribbean efforts to boost economic growth and maintain historic social gains.

The Washington-based financial institution said that the amount included resources from its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

The World Bank’s IBRD and IDA “maintained its strong support for the region” by approving more than US$5.1 billion in new loans in fiscal year 2014, US$4.6 billion from IBRD and US$455 million from IDA, the bank’s fund for the poorest countries, the statement said.

“Support was aimed at generating opportunities for all through public and private sector projects that expand public services, improve regional productivity, competitiveness and integration, create new quality jobs and assist those most in need,” said the bank, adding that Haiti received US$103 million in IDA grants.

Transportation, fiscal management and education received the most IBRD funding, said the World Bank, with the region receiving one fourth of IBRD’s total global new lending.

The bank said that this fiscal year, IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, identified infrastructure as one of the most urgent priorities to help boost competitiveness and job creation, especially for the region’s growing urban population.

In fiscal year 2014, the World Bank said IFC invested US$1.7 billion in 34 infrastructure projects, including energy, ports, telecom and more.

In total, the World Bank said IFC supported 148 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean this fiscal year with US$5.1 billion in investments, including US$1.1 billion mobilized from other financial institutions.

It said IFC clients help support jobs for more than 1,580,000 people and provide over 25 million people with connections to power, water and telephone services.

In fiscal year 2014, the World Bank said IFC invested US$1.7 billion in 34 infrastructure projects, including energy, ports, telecom and more.

In total, the World Bank said IFC supported 148 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean this fiscal year with US$5.1 billion in investments, including US$1.1 billion mobilized from other financial institutions.

It said IFC clients help support jobs for more than 1,580,000 people and provide over 25 million people with connections to power, water and telephone services.

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World Bank commits US$10.2 billion to boost Caribbean economic growth

RADA launches competition to boost productivity

News

Thursday, September 12, 2013 | 6:12 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has launched a competition among its 13 parish offices aimed at enhancing the agency’s services to farmers island-wide, and contributing to increased agricultural production.Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke officially launched the project on Wednesday (September 11), at his Hope Gardens offices in St Andrew.Aproximately $1 million is up for grabs in the contest, which got underway in August, and is being held over 12 months concluding in July 2014. The objective is “to engage staff in efforts that will boost and enhance service delivery; strengthen parish leadership and team work in areas that will positively impact staff and, by extension, production and productivity in the sector”.The RADA offices will be assessed in a number of areas. These include crop production; marketing plans; market-driven production; project and livestock development; formation and strengthening of farmers groups, with emphasis on incorporating women and youth; farmer registration and verification; and agricultural disaster risk management initiatives.Each parish office is expected to write and implement at least two viable projects capable of generating income totaling at least $500,000 or strengthen the capacities of existing initiatives.The winning parish will receive $500,000 and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries trophy, while the second place parish will land the $250,000 runner-up prize. A prize of $250,000 will also be awarded to the parish deemed to have averaged best in all competition categories.Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke (second right), along with (from left) Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer, Lenworth Fulton; RADA Board Chairman, Dr Densil Williams; and Principal Director in the Ministry, Dwight Uylett, admire the Minister’s trophy, one of the prizes which will be awarded to the winner of RADA’s national parish competition.

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RADA launches competition to boost productivity

RADA launches competition to boost productivity

Latest News

Thursday, September 12, 2013 | 6:12 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) has launched a competition among its 13 parish offices aimed at enhancing the agency’s services to farmers island-wide, and contributing to increased agricultural production.Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke officially launched the project on Wednesday (September 11), at his Hope Gardens offices in St Andrew.Aproximately $1 million is up for grabs in the contest, which got underway in August, and is being held over 12 months concluding in July 2014. The objective is “to engage staff in efforts that will boost and enhance service delivery; strengthen parish leadership and team work in areas that will positively impact staff and, by extension, production and productivity in the sector”.The RADA offices will be assessed in a number of areas. These include crop production; marketing plans; market-driven production; project and livestock development; formation and strengthening of farmers groups, with emphasis on incorporating women and youth; farmer registration and verification; and agricultural disaster risk management initiatives.Each parish office is expected to write and implement at least two viable projects capable of generating income totaling at least $500,000 or strengthen the capacities of existing initiatives.The winning parish will receive $500,000 and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries trophy, while the second place parish will land the $250,000 runner-up prize. A prize of $250,000 will also be awarded to the parish deemed to have averaged best in all competition categories.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserverAgriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke (second right), along with (from left) Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer, Lenworth Fulton; RADA Board Chairman, Dr Densil Williams; and Principal Director in the Ministry, Dwight Uylett, admire the Minister’s trophy, one of the prizes which will be awarded to the winner of RADA’s national parish competition.

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RADA launches competition to boost productivity

Literacy and numeracy boost for 31 schools

MORE than 40,000 students and teachers from schools in four education regions are to benefit from Digicel Foundation’s enrichment initiative, aimed at boosting literacy and numeracy at the primary level.

The aim is to train teachers in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provided by Digicel, to enhance curriculum delivery. A total of 31 schools from regions three to six have been selected to benefit from the programme, beginning September 2013.A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), between Digicel Foundation and the participating schools, was signed last Thursday, at the Ministry of Education’s Region Four office in Montego Bay, St James.Board member of the Digicel Foundation, Joy Clark, said that the programme hopes to reach 40,000 students and 190 teachers, who will be trained to use ICT as a new method of teaching.Regional director, Hilary Foster, and the school administrators welcomed the support. “We look forward to the training of our teachers, and the engagement of parents; the end result will be improvement in the students’ performance. I thank the Digicel Foundation for partnering with us as we seek to improve student learning. This reflects their commitment to education,” Foster stated.Chairman of the Bethel Primary and Junior High School in Hanover, Rev O’Neil Brown, also expressed gratitude to Digicel for “impacting education in an area where we all have concerns. I am thankful for that”.Principal of the St James-based Irwin Primary School, Clive Nelson, said that the enrichment programme is an outstanding one. He pledged that come September, “we all will go out there and make sure that literacy is improved, and the children will get the individual attention that they need”.The enrichment initiative is an islandwide ICT partnership with the Ministry of Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of achieving 100 per cent literacy by 2015.First launched in 2009, the project is designed to provide ICT and more individualised instruction for students in grades one through to three, who are experiencing difficulty in achieving their grade level in reading.Digicel Foundation and USAID have invested US $3.7 million in support of the initiative, which involves the provision of computers, software, literacy tools and material.Already under the initiative, enrichment centres have been established in a number of institutions.The programme is hoping to reach 95 schools over the next three years.

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Literacy and numeracy boost for 31 schools

Junior Squash gets timely boost from Burger King

JAMAICA’S team to the 2013 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships received a timely $400,000 boost from restaurant franchise Burger King during yesterday’s squad announcement at the Liguanea Club.

The Jamaicans, coached by Canadian Rene Denis, depart tomorrow for the July 22-28 tournament in Trinidad & Tobago.A total of eight teams, including eight-time reigning overall champions Guyana, are set to participate in the competition, which is regarded as an integral stepping stone for young players.The tournament will comprise age groups ranging from Under-13s, Under-15s, Under-17s to Under-19s. It will be split into male and female categories, as well as individual and team competitions.Denis, who started working with the team in February, expressed confidence that Jamaica can improve on their fourth overall placing on home soil last year.He noted that the players are “a lot stronger” than earlier in the year, and added that they have developed into more “tactical and patient” competitors.“I think their chances are very good. I think we have a reasonable chance of winning the Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 as Boys’ and possibly the Under-13s. In the Girls’, we should win the Under-15 and possibly the Under-13s,” he said.Denis picked out tall-framed Alyssa Mullings as “the powerhouse of the Caribbean” after her recent dominance at both the youth and senior levels.Nicholas Mundell, Burger King’s sponsorship manager, emphasised his company’s “continued support” in youth development and in sporting programmes that “sets the foundation for the future”.Officials said the sponsorship from the fast-food giant assisted the team with clothing kits and other gear.Aside from Burger King’s contribution, the Jamaica Squash Association (JSA) also received assistance from sports clothing manufacturer 305 Squash.Squads: Females — Jessica Perkins, Sarah Conway, Mira Handa, Michaelann Denton, Alyssa Mullings, Ashley Lynch, Mia Lake, Mia MahfoodMales — Ashante Smith, Adam Ardito, Alex Wright, Jake Mahfood, Joe Rousseau, Jonathan Walker, Julian Morrison, Tahjia Lumley.Burger King’s Brand Manager Nicholas Mundell (left) presents a symbolic cheque of $400,000 to junior squash male captain Ashante Smith (right) as team manager Gill Binnie (second left) and female captain Jessica Perkins look on yesterday at the Liguanea Club. (PHOTO: ASTON SPAULDING)

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Junior Squash gets timely boost from Burger King

LIME, Cisco show how modern PBX systems boost efficiency and productivity

Business

Friday, July 19, 2013

TELECOMMUNICATIONS firm LIME and global leader in information technology solutions, Cisco have partnered to offer the public and private sectors cutting-edge PBX business telephone systems designed to boost their efficiency and productivity.Cisco unveiled its Unified Communications system, which the technology company said makes a bold step forward ahead of conventional PBX systems.The new system will feature advanced capabilities that incorporate mobile devices, multimedia and video communication while offering employees increased flexibility to get work done even while away from the office, the IT provider said.Speaking at the Cisco Collaborations Seminar at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, LIME’s Vice-president of Corporate and SME Sales Edward Gabbidon stressed the importance for local businesses to make the investment in the PBX system now, in order to reap the benefits of a leaner, more efficient organisation much sooner.While addressing the group of key decision-makers, which included IT managers and public sector administrators, Gabbidon said, “LIME offers that bridge to business transformation with the new CISCO Unified Communications system that will run our robust and reliable network, deliver best-in-class technology that will propel your business to the next level of competitiveness.”Gabbidon welcomed Cisco’s move to allay the up-front cost of installing its Unified Communications Solution through the US-based firm’s attractive payment plan.Additionally, Cisco’s territory systems engineer Garfield Gordon expressed that the solution’s scalability allows organisations to build it out over time and in line with their ability to fund the capital cost.LIME has been partnering with Cisco for 10 years.

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LIME, Cisco show how modern PBX systems boost efficiency and productivity

EU provides US$30M boost to Guyana"s sugar industry

Business

Friday, June 28, 2013

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The European Union has awarded Guyana US$30 million to help boost the Caribbean country’s struggling sugar industry.The money will be used to buy harvesting machines and lessen dependence on cane cutters, many of whom have abandoned fields to work in the country’s booming gold-mining business.The announcement comes just days after the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation reported its lowest-ever first crop production of 48,000 tons (43,500 metric tons), 20,000 tons (18,100 metric tons) less than projected.The company has blamed serious labour shortages, bad weather, mounting debt and management problems for the decrease in production.The deal was signed last week.Sugar generates about 20 per cent of Guyana’s gross domestic product, and the industry is the country’s largest employer. Against the background that the sugar industry continues to play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the country, Government earlier this year said it was pumping billions of dollars in reforming the industry.“The industry is still of sufficient systemic importance to the national economy and to the livelihoods of so many rural communities and has such deep forward and backward linkages with suppliers and distributors nationwide that no effort must be spared to ensure its long-term viability, competitiveness, and profitability,” said Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh as he announced a billion-dollar (One Guyana dollar = US$0.01 cents) allocation to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) in March.

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EU provides US$30M boost to Guyana"s sugar industry